I submitted my viva in August, 1 month before the university recommended deadline for November Graduation. At this point, examiners had agreed availability in September, and if things had gone to plan, I would have most likely made the graduation deadline which was end of October. after submission, my supervisor tried to get them to organise a date. 1 month post thesis submission, he was told by the external that he hadn't received the paper copy yet, this is while upon my further follow-up, it was clarified that the thesis had been received by the external's department but apparently had not reached him. I also don;t understand why it took him more than 1 month to report this. Anyway, the thesis was successfully tracked and is now in their hands.
The examiners have finally agreed on a date (december 9th) which is over 2 months away. I have asked my supervisor a number of times to mediate and try and move the date back as it is jeopardising my employment. And he repeatedly says that the examiners have tried really hard but that seems to be the only available date. I am no longer a student so I cannot use the perks that come with that while waiting around trying to stay afloat.
In the meantime my university only has graduation dates per annum and there are no off-cycle certifications, meaning that I will not be awarded a certificate until June 2014. I could make sense to have 2 graduations only if certificates are awarded in meaningful frequent intervals. This is while I was supposed complete my PhD in march (to graduate in June 2013) which unfortunately due to the supervisor not being available at the time, was delayed. My question is, what can I do in this situation? can I force the university to award me with a certificate sooner than June? Is there anything I can do to get the externals to decide on an earlier date?
back-story: I had a 3.5 year studentship, 1.5 years through which I had to change my supervisor AND research question. I have not been able to use my office in the past year as I couldn't bear to share an office with my trouble maker colleague due to his bad behaviour including counts of sexist and racist remarks (which I have not reported). The university has provided minimum support throughout problems.

I know this has been a drag for you and not ideal but these things do just take time it seems. It's about 12 weeks until your viva date, which isn't that long now and I would say so soon i wouldn;t be worth the fuss to trya nd get them to move the date nearer. You will get clarification of your award on your viva, pass no corrections, pass minor, pass major, R&R, Mphil etc so in 12 weeks you will know what you have and depending what you get you can apply for positions without the actual certificate but you will have to be clear with prospective employers what that viva decision was. Does your uni not have a careers advice service. They should be advising you on what you can effectively apply for at this point.

Hi wowzers. I have been in contact with prospective employers and they have stated that I should complete my PhD prior to starting working for them (whether this means viva + corrections I don't know yet). I think to most people it won't matter that certificate says june 14 instead of 13, but personally I find the whole thing very frustrating. I have had a very tough year, with 2 deaths and a cancer to deal with. 1 month prior submission my grandfather became seriously ill and sadly passed away 1 week prior to submission, which was seriously difficult for me to deal with but I put all efforts into making sure I made the deadline. And for all that effort, and some serious unfairness I have experienced over the past 4 years of PhD, I am very unpleased and angry at the way the situation has been dealt with. Obviously if I knew I wouldn't get awarded 'till June 14, I may have not submitted when I did, considering the personal hardship I was experiencing.

At my Uni., if you decided NOT to go through with the graduaton ceremony then you would just have your certificate posted to you when it was ready. This may be quicker for you and you can but ask.

However, after your viva and once you have carried out any corrections (if any corrections are minor and do not require a further viva) you will receive a confirmation letter that you are being awarded the PhD. This should be sufficient proof for your employers that you have satisfied conditions for PhD prior to you receiving the certificate. I received this letter 13 days after minor corrections were approved.

As regards your bigoted colleague, I would complain as a parting shot once you've been awarded your PhD. However, ensure you do not need employment references from the Uni. before you do.

I also had a long wait for viva with my supervisor hosting a seminar. I used it as extra preparation time for my viva.

Ian (Mackem_Beefy)

Mackem_Beefy, unfortunately at my uni, even if you do not want to attend graduation, the certificate will be issued the same time for all students as there are only two committee meetings per year, so I've been told. So I am thinking I might be able to get them to make an exception for me given the circumstances, but wouldn't know who to talk to about appeals etc.

I am hoping that the viva and the result (regardless of corrections) will suffice for employment purpose. but I do worry that, if the letter you mention is required for employers (i.e. post corrections, examiner approvals and final submission) this could be dragged on 'till Feb, since it will be tricky to track the examiners down throughout Jan.

I am considering reporting my colleagues actions but yes, as you said, after I am awarded my PhD.